THE

London Philatelist
THE MONTHLY JOT7RNAI, OP

THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

DECEMBER, 1893.

A Modern Don Quixote.

THEever-memorable hero of Cervantes' great work has served so often as
a. simile for subsequent occurrences that the very name itself has been
incorporated in our language. Among the tours deforce executed by
that doughty champion will readily be recollected his terrific onslaught
on the windmills, which, to the gallant knight's distorted vision, repre-
sented so many fierce monsters bent on swallowing up all the innocent folk
in their vicinity. The London Philatelist in the course of its own peaceful
avocations was lately slowly revolving the harmless fans of its mill, and in so
doing has been mistaken by no less a champion than the editor of the Philatelic
Record for a monster bent on attacking its peaceful neighbours.
Our esteemed contemporary has absolutely and entirely run counter to the
whole tenor of the article (in our October number), which was certainly neither
written or conceived with the purpose either of depreciating any other Journal, or
of over-rating this one. We have had many comments thereon ; nor have we
heard of any other construction of the meaning of the article in question than that
intended, i.e., an argument in favour of the reduction of the " Novelties " to a
secondary feature in the London Philatelist, in view of the excellent way in which
these new issues were dealt with in many of our contemporaries, such as the
Philatelic Record, the Monthly Journal, the PhilatelicJournal of Great Britain, and
others. The tenor of the article should surely have dissuaded our contemporary
from a tortuous construction of the pronoun "their" into "his." The statement
objected to by our friend must simply convey to any unbiassed mind that, in the
opinion of the writer, the Journals owned by dealers are bound in " their own " —
i.e., the dealers' —interests to promote the sale of postage stamps inclusive, as a
material factor, of the new issues. There is no attempt at "insinuation" or
"attack" ; we are not enamoured of the former method, and are quite capable of an
attack in the open field where required. In this case any such imputation is
querulous and unfounded ; and had the writer any intention of making any accusa-
tion against any Journal or person he would have done so openly. The article was
214 A MODERN DON QUIXOTE.

simply an expression as to our future policy, as will be seen hereafter, and our
friend may rest assured that neither in thought or word was any imputation con-
veyed on him personally—or any other Philatelic Editor.
There is a personal side to this little controversy to which, having been our-
selves the subject of an "attack," we are justified in calling attention. It is an open
secret that the Philatelic Record, lias been continuously, and is being, edited by
members of the London Society, to which body it practically owes entirely the
prestige and success of its long career. It is further equally a matter of general
knowledge that the writer was a constant contributor to that Journal, and was the
last Editor until the London Society issued its own paper. The estimation and
affection evidenced for " the Record" during all this period by the writer (as all other
members of the London Society) is so apparent in its pages, that we should have
imagined it impossible to conceive any member of that body capable of making a
direct attack either on the Journal or their fellow member. There has been no
tendency evinced in the conduct of the London Philatelist to do other than attend
soberly to its own affairs ; we may have had our opinion as to the justice of some of
the criticisms that we have read, but we have refrained sedulously from any reprisals.
The dominant factor in the situation remains, as clearly stated in our October
article, that this Journal is the only one in this country owned by collectors. This
fact should clearly indicate the policy of absolute amity to all other contemporaries ;
and, in our opinion, the aims of the Journal should be to run as little as possible
upon existing lines, in order not to clash with other papers that were its pre-
decessors in the Philatelic field. As the medium of the London Society, and as a
representative of collectors, there can be no reason why our pages should not be
received with welcome by the majority of those who also subscribe to our excellent
contemporaries.
The foregoing remarks of necessity apply more closely to those firms already
owning Philatelic Journals - our contemporaries, not adversaries. But the category
of dealers extends far beyond this, and if the friendly intent of the London
Philatelist towards collectors has been made clear, it is still more evident that it
must rely upon the "co-operation and good-will of the trade" generally. Without
their good-will the conduct of a Journal such as this would be a thankless task.
Our aim will be to endeavour to represent both classes—collectors and dealers—to
"attack" abuses, and to ignore personalities. We hope that our friend, the Editor
of the Philatelic Record, will forgive us our somewhat lengthened diatribe as to the
excellency of our motives, and that before he again sallies out from his Arcadian
retirement will, like the immortal hero of the Spanish romance, realise the
unsubstantial nature of chivalrous attacks.
 The Stamps of Heligoland.
By EDMUND F. BRODERIP.

AFTER reading Mr. Ehrenbach's article on the stamps of Oldenburg in

the March number of this Journal, I have felt myself encouraged,
by his example, to try my hand at a few notes, for I cannot give
them a better name, on the stamps of Heligoland. It is, of course,
out of my power to get copies of official documents, and for such
scraps of official information as I have, I am mostly indebted to an
interesting, but, I think, little known German work on the subject by
Herr A. Wulbern.
The stamps of Heligoland are common enough, luckily, to be well known
to all without any need of illustrations. According to Herr Wulbern, "The
first postmaster was appointed to Heligoland shortly after the taking of that
island from Denmark in 1807, and its formal annexation to Great Britain in
1814." The post at that time, however, does not seem to have been of any
importance whatever, and was principally carried on by means of English
vessels. Later on an arangement was made that all vessels plying between
Cuxhaven and Heligoland should carry mails. letters thus carried may be
known by the post-marks " RITZEBUTTEL," in large letters, 5 mm. high
length of inscription 39 mm., and the words "Aus Helgoland uber Cuxhaven,"
enclosed in a single-lined frame. This latter speaks for itself.
Letters were often carried by vessels to Geestemiinde, such being distinguish-
able by the postmarks, " GEESTEMUENDE ZOLLVEREIN," with date, year,
and hour, the whole enclosed in a single-lined frame; also, "AUS HELGOLAND"
in the segment of a circle. More modern than these are the ordinary German,
single-lined, circular postmarks, with " Cuxhaven " or " Geestemiinde," with the
date, year, and hour. Letters appear sometimes to have been carried as far as
Hamburg without being obliterated, for I possess specimens of stamps marked with
the old Hamburg postmark in blue.
The oldest of all postmarks is " HELGOLAND," in capital letters, measuring
about 4 mm. by 29 mm.; this was in use long before postage stamps were
introduced, and is found on the stamps of the first (1867) issue; a similar postmark,
found on all other issues, measures about 5 mm. by 36 mm. I have a stamp
marked "IRT," the last letters of the word Registrirt enclosed in an ornamental
frame. Herr Wulbern mentions also a large " T" enclosed in a single-lined
octagonal frame, used on unpaid letters.
It was first in 1828, however, after the opening of the place as a resort for sea-
bathing, that the post grew to any importance. The ordinary postmarks consist
of:—i. A double circle with its upper half broken away and replaced by the word
"HEUGOI/AND," with date and year in the centre; they resemble the old
English ones, and have the figures of the date before the letters denoting the month.
2. Similar, but the letters of the month precede the date figures. There are three types
of these, differing in the forms of the letters, &c. 3. The word " HELGOLAND "
in a single-lined circle, with the date (in figures only), the year, and hour,
resembling the ordinary German postmark. This latter is not so often met with,
having been employed on one day only, the xoth of August, 1890. The gth of
August was the last day on which Heligoland stamps were allowed to be used, and
216 THE STAMPS OF HELIGOLAND.

such numbers of letters were posted that the post-office was obliged to be closed
for one whole day (on the loth), which was given up entirely to the sorting and
obliterating of letters and other postal work, the German-Heligoland postmark
being used.
All these postmarks have been extensively forged and applied to reprints;
the forgeries may be told, however, by comparison with the genuine ones, from
which they differ in several details.
The first postage stamps were issued in 1876, and consisted of four values,
J, i, 2, and 6 schilling. They were, as well as the other issues, printed at the
German Imperial Printing-office, on soft, white, unsurfaced paper and rouletted,
the gum being yellowish. Opinions differ as to the month and day of this issue,
I think the date given by Herr Wiilbern, the ist April, most likely the correct one.
In July (Moens), 1869, the £ sch., and in (Oct., 1871, Moens?) the i sch.
stamp appeared perf. 14.
i2th August, 1873, two new values were added, the J and ij sch. A quantity
of the J sch. were printed in 1874, by error, with the colours of the frame and
the central oval interchanged, viz.: —with red centre and green frame.
In December, 1873, another, the £ sch. made its appearance, similar in type
to the foregoing ones.
A new type was introduced in 1875, on the first day of which year six values
were issued—i farthing, i pfennig, 2 f., 2 p., 3 f., 5 p., ijd. 10 p. and 6d., 50 p.
These were printed on paper similar to that of the former issues, the gum, however,
was slightly whiter. Herr Dr. Pilger (formerly General Postmaster of Heligoland),
writes to Herr Wulbern with reference to the i and 2 far. values, " that they
were only issued to comply with the wishes of postage stamp collectors, and
were afterwards put 'ausser cours' (out of use) again!" Was the error of 1874
also made to " comply with the wishes (!) of stamp collectors ?" it seems probable !
M. Moens gives, in his catalogue, an error of the i far. stamp with the head
inverted, I believe, however, all stamps with inverted heads to be undoubted
reprints.
Two stamps of a new design, the 2j far. 3 pf., and the 2£d. 20 pf., appeared the
ist June, 1876. The 2^ far. ceased to be issued in 1879 ; in September of the same
year the r and 5 mark stamps came into use. Of the 5 marks there are two
varieties differing in the formation of the A in Heligoland.
In 1884 the 2jd. had its colours changed from rose and orange to red, light
yellow and dark green.
The colours of the 3 far., i£d. and 2jd. were also modified in 1889, the green of
the 3 far. becoming darker; the green and red of the i Jd. lighter; and the 2jd.
taking a yellowish tint to its green.

REPRINTS.
The dies of the first, 1867 ; second, 1873 ; third, 1875 (i, 2 and 3 far. only) ;
and fourth, 1876 (2^ far.), issues have found their way into the possession of a
Hamburg dealer, and in consequence the market has been inundated with reprints.
The reprinting of the 3 far., 1875 issue, is on Herr Wulbern's authority. There
have been two "issues" of these reprints, the one on soft paper of a slightly
greyish tint, the other on paper resembling the genuine issue but rather thinner,
the gum also is always white and is smoother than in the originals. The best
test with unused specimens is to lay them on their faces, when the printing at the
sides will more or less clearly show through the paper and gum in the reprints.
The only test with the used stamps is of course the postmark. (See note at end.J
Several forgeries of the stamps exist also, I believe them, however, to be all
easily distinguishable.
 THE STAMPS OF HELIGOLAND. 217

REFERENCE LIST.
ist April, 1867. Head of Queen to left, embossed in white. Printed at the Imperial German
Printing-office, on soft, white, unsurfaced paper, of a slightly yellowish tint caused by the gum.
No watermark. Gum yellowish, and much cracked. Rouletted.
£ schilling, green, inner angles red.
1 „ red, „ „ green.
2 ,, red, inner square green.
6 ,, green, „ ,, red.
July, 1869. Similar to the foregoing issue but perf. 14.
\ schilling, green and red. \ schilling, dark green and red.
October, 1871 (?). Similar, perf. 14.
i schilling, red and green.
I2th August, 1873. Similar to previous issues, perf. 14.
\ schilling, red, oval green.
£ ,, rose, „ „
ij „ green, „ red.
December, 1873. Similar, perf. 14.
| schilling, centre rose, frame rose and green.
i „ „ „ „ „ „ dark green.
1874. Error.
\ schilling, green, oval red.
ist January, 1875. Head as before, but in oval frame. Paper and gum generally whiter, perf. 14.
1 farthing, i pfennig, red, oval green.
2 ,, 2 ,, green, „ red.
3 .» 5 .» red, „ green.
ij pence, 10 pfennig, green, oval red.
ij „ 10 „ „ „ bright red.
3 „ 25 „ red, „ green.
6 „ 50 „ green, „ red.
ist June, 1876. Shield of three colours, surmounted by crown, in oval frame. Soft white
paper, white gum, no watermark, perf. 14. The paper of this and the following issues appears to
be sometimes slightly surfaced.
2j farthings, 3 pfennig, green, red and orange. Suppressed 1879.
21 pence, 20 pfennig, rose, green and orange.
September, 1879. Figure of value in oval or square, printed in three or four colours, on white
paper, perf. 14.
i mark, i schilling, black, blue, green and rose.
i ,, i „ ,, yellow, green and red.
5 „ 5 ,, „ pale red, green and orange.
VARIETY.—5 mark, A of Heligoland badly formed.
1884. Similar to 1876 issue.
2j pence, 20 pfennig, red, dark green and yellow.
1889. Similar to the 1875 and 1876 issues, perf. 14.
3 farthings, 5 pfennig, red, oval dark green.
ij pence, 10 pfennig, light green, oval light red.
2j „ 20 „ yellow-green, red and yellow.
I may say that the reprinters have not confined their attention to imitating the regular issues,
but have added many bogus varieties, such as the first issue and others unperforated, the
2 and 6 schilling first issue, perforated, errors with inverted heads, &c.
 New Issues
AND UNCHRONICLED VARIETIES.

NOTE.—The co-operation of Members of the London, and other Philatelic Societies, and of all Collectors and Dealers
is invited in order that these lists may be as complete as possible. The earliest intimation of Novelties is
desired, accompanied, if possible, by the specimen referred to, which will be returned and acknowledged, with
the sender's name, unless otherwise requested.

ADHESIVES.

Argentine Republic.-A correspondent has Bulgaria.—A premonitory symptom of a new

shown to the Atnerican Journal of Philately issue has been noted by Der Philatelist in the
an unsevered pair of the issue of 1890, 60 c. black guise of a variety of the 10 stotinki. This has
imperforate. Everything is possible in South been seen on very thin paper, and changed in
America! colour to vermilion instead of rose.
60 c. black 1890 issue imperforate. 10 stot. vermilion, on thin paper, perf. n.
Belgium.—The series of Dominicals, or non-
Sunday delivery stamps, that are making a Chamba.—The publishers of the Philatelic
Journal of Great Britain notify the receipt by
laughing-stock of the Belgian Postal Authorities, them of copies of the ordinary and official
has scarce been completed before changes have
been made or foreshadowed in the colours. The values of the one anna, having the name mis-
Timbre-Poste announces that the I c. has already spelt as under:—
Error: i anna black on brown CHMABA.
suffered an alteration, and the 2 c. and 50 c. will ,» j» » j, » official.
also probably have their livery changed. These
alterations are said to be owing to the difficulty Chefoo.-We have from Messrs. Whitfield
of distinguishing the different colours by gas- King & Co. and Mr. David Benjamin specimens
light ; though why this test should not be of the new issue for this district. The central
applied before the final selection of the colours design represents the steamer signal-station
is a problem that only the enlightened ideas of of the port—a square building surmounted
postal red-tapeism can solve. with a Chinese house, a large signal-post
i c. dark greenish grey. with numerous wires attached, and a fore-
ground of rocks. It bears the word " Chefoo "
We have from several correspondents particu- above and " I cent i " below, the numerals
lars of the Antwerp Jubilee Exhibition stamps, being in either angle, with their Chinese
but we hold such a strong aversion to these equivalent in corresponding upper corners.
frequently recurring Jubilee issues that we feel The stamps are apparently typographed
loth to indulge in any extended description of and of Continental origin, on thin white
them. Jubilees, Centenaries, and Exhibitions wove paper, watermarked with a Chinese
are harmless enough in their way, but we fail hieroglyphic, bearing the first character of the
to see why a considerable portion of their name of the town. Several correspondents
expenses should be extorted from the pockets have informed us that about 50 sets have been
of stamp collectors by the issue of ephemeral sold at Chefoo bearing the words " Postage
postal rubbish. The " stamp" in question due," that the issue and sale of these stamps
bears the arms of Antwerp in the centre, on was unauthorised, and that consequently they
the left and right angles respectively a head have no philatelic value. None the less, their
(apparently of the female persuasion !), and the issue betokens a laxity that augurs ill for the
arms of Belgium, and the name of the city future postal tranquility as regards misprints,
and country in the French and Flemish in this latest accession to Oriental Philately.
languages. To crown the attractiveness of the
specimens they bear the non-Sunday delivery J c. green perf. iij, wmk. Chinese characters.
1 „ vermilion ,, „
" ticket" at the foot, and altogether constitute 2 „ blue „ ,,
an issue that will redound to the lasting dis- 5 „ yellow „ „
credit of the Belgian Postal Authorities as 10 „ brown „ „
serious and responsible officials. Great Britain. — We have already made
Antwerp Exhibition Issues: mention of the existence of copies of the 4d.
5 c., green on rose paper.
10 c., carmine on blue paper. value of the first issue, with the large garter
25 c., blue on rose paper. watermark, on paper more or less true blue!
 NEW ISSUES AND UNCHRONICLED VARIETIES. 219

We have since seen and heard of numerous stamps for this 'iColony," accompanied by the
copies on decidedly blue paper, which, however, courteous letter herewith cited :
entirely failed to convince us that they were so 15, Leadenhall-street, E.C.
issued. The " blueing," which apparently 4th December, 1893.
emanates from across the Channel, has been Douglas Garth, Esq.
done with some skill, and collectors will do DEAR SIR,—We address you as the Hon.-
well to carefully examine any specimens on Secretary to the Philatelic Society of London,
blue paper that they may come across before and beg to enclose two sets of our new issue of
admitting them to their albums. We also stamps.
received specimens from Mr. W. T. Wilson, Since the completion of the negotiations for
with which he expressed himself as satisfied; the extension of a British Protectorate over the
but with all deference to so good an authority, Company's territory, the official description of
and after submitting the stamps to other the country has been " The State of North
experts on English stamps, we were unable Borneo," and it is with a view of conforming
to finally accept them. We hope shortly thereto that this new issue, which has long
to have further information on this point, been contemplated, has now been made.
when we will extend our remarks. A supply of these stamps has been sent to
Mr. Hastings Wright has shown us a pair of Borneo to be put in circulation; but in order to
the Jd., one stamp bearing plate No. 13 and the allow time for this being done no sales will be
other No. 12, the latter being a skilful altera- made in London until 1st January next.
tion from the former. These stamps, which Should it be found at any time necessary to
were freely offered for sale at Edinburgh make a surcharge, a notification will be pub-
recently, have been compared with the impri- lished in the Official Gazette, and sent also to
matur sheet at Somerset House, and absolutely you, so as to enable you to detect any un-
condemned. authorised issue.
I am, dear Sir,
Hawaii.—-Mr. A. de Worms has shown us a Yours faithfully,
pair of the 5 c. current issue without the sur- B. T. KlNDERSiyEY,
charge, imperf. horizontally and postmarked Secretary.
Jan. 25, 1892, and we can remember other The Company are to be congratulated upon
varieties of this value with missing perforations, the issue, as regards the nine lower values, of
inter alia, the like stamp imperf. vertically. as beautiful a set of stamps as has ever
5 c. 1892 issue, imperf. horizontally. emanated from any country. In delicacy of
design, in engraving, and in colouring they
Holland.—The high value with the Queen's are in our opinion quite unsurpassable, and
effigy has now appeared, superseding the at once take the highest rank as regards
bi-coloured effigy of the King, that has been the artistic side of Philately. There can be
continuously in use for 22 years, and will now no doubt that their beauty will command
probably go up in value ! a large sale in the collecting world, and
2^ florin carmine and blue ; perf. nj. we trust that it may be long before any of
them submit to either alteration or disfigure-
Mexico.—This philatelically prolific country is ment by surcharge. The enormous spread of
contemplating a new issue. The Timbre-Poste collecting has drawn the attention of the
states that a competition for new designs has postal authorities everywhere to the advisability
been opened by the Mexican Government, and of catering for appearance as well as use in the
that one of those submitted, having a figure issuing of new designs. It should therefore be
of one of the Aztec Emperors, has already borne in mind that any needless variation of
been adopted. surcharge or design not only weakens the con-
fidence felt in the stamps of that particular
Natal.—Mr. W. T, Wilson has shown us a
country, but practically represents an unfair
variety of the id. on 6d. black, emanating from
tax on a community that to a large extent
the Williams' collection, that has apparently
contributes towards the postal revenues. The
hitherto escaped the envious gaze of chroniclers.
I c. bears a full length portrait of a Borneo
The surcharge has been most carefully measured
Dyak in black on yellow brown. The 2 c., an
and confirmed by Mr. Wilson, and we have no
antlered stag's head in black on pink. The
hesitation in accepting its genuineness. The
3 c., an oil palm and river scene in green upon
date of issue is towards the end of 1877, the
lilac. The 5 c., an Argus pheasant (an indigen-
normal variety being the barring of the
ous bird with a peacock fan-tail) in black on
expressed value of 6d., the addition of the new
vermilion. The 6 c., the arms of Borneo within
value id., and the word postage in upright
a scrolled shield in black on brown. The 8 c.,
Roman capitals. In the specimen in question
this word has been omitted. a Borneo prahee or sailing plus rowing boat
nearing the coast, in grey on dark lilac. The
1877 issue: id. black, surcharge on 6d. violet, with 12 c., a crocodile of peculiarly voracious aspect
" Postage " omitted.
on a river bank, in black on blue, the latter
North Borneo.—We have to acknowledge colour being most artistically blended and
the receipt of a new and handsome set of shaded to represent the water. The 18 c.,
220 NEW ISSUES AND UNCHRONICLED VARIETIES.
a mountainous harbour crowned with a giving rise to speculation, and making them
fortress with foliage and a native boat— difficult to obtain.
a perfect gem—in a dark chrome green. The " Another correspondent in Porto Rico
24 c., the arms with supports of native figures writes :—That only one stamp was sold to each
on either side, in blue on dull lake. The applicant; that the stamps were printed in the
preceding values all bear the "State of North island, and the plate was to have been broken
Borneo," "Postage and Revenue," and the on Nov. 2oth (our correspondents' letters were
respective values in numerals and cents. The both dated the igth)."
25 and 50 cents and i, 2 and 5 dollars are 3 c., sth Centenary issue: dark green on white; perf. 12.
similar to those lately current, but also bear St. Helena.—The Monthly Journal notes a
the altered inscription above—"The State of new variety—the 2jd., formed by surcharging
North Borneo," while a fresh and high value of the 6d. value, printed in a different shade of
similar design and dimensions to the 5 dollars blue, with " 2yd." and the cancellation of the
is added. The five lowest values are iipright original denomination by a short bar.
rectangles, the next four horizontal rect- 2^d., black sur. on blue: wink. C. A. & Co.: perf. 14.
angles, and the remaining seven upright large
rectangles (far too large), especially the three St. Vincent.—From the same source we glean
high denominations. These stamps are engraved that there are two distinct shades of the recent
in steel, printed on white wove unwatermarked 5d. surcharged on 6d., the one in a dull car-
paper and are perforated—the gauge varying mine, and the other in a very brown shade of
from 14 to isj. carmine, both quite distinct.
1 c , black and yellow brown. Sarawak.—We are further indebted to our
2c, ,, pink.
3 c , yellow green lilac. esteemed contemporary for the knowledge of
««• black vermilion, two varieties of the 2 c. on 8 c. One has the
6c, „ brown, overprint struck twice (presumably by a hand-
8 c., grey dull lilac, stamp), while the other is attached to specimen
12 c., black blue. bearingthe single normal surcharge, but without
iS c., dark green
24 c., blue „ ,, dull lake. any overprint at all.
25 c., dull slate 2 c., black sur. on 8 c., rose and green, double, surcharge.
50 c., violet 2 c. „ (pair) one stamp without surcharge.
1 dol. vermilion-red. Shanghai.—We are indebted to a friendly
2 „ green.
5 „ violet. correspondent for the sight of yet another
10 „ dull brown. stamp here, as indicated in accompanying
25 „ dark blue. letter :—
(The first mentioned colour is that of the central design.) Shanghai,
Porto Rico.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. i8th November, 1893.
send us a specimen of another Centenary or DEAR SIR,—I enclose for your inspection
Jubilee stamp for Porto Rico, which we and to Be chronicled in the LONDON
chronicle with reluctance in view of the PHILATELIST (to which paper I am a subscriber),
editorial grumbles elsewhere in this issue. a specimen of the Shanghai Jubilee (2 cents)
The design, apparently lithographed, consisting postage stamp, issued here on the isth instant,
of a boatload of the early discoverers leaving in commemoration of opening of Shanghai to
their galleon and approaching the Porto Rico foreign trade fifty years ago.
shores, within an oblong coloured frame in- I am, yours truly,
scribed above " Puerto Rico," below 3 centavos DAVID BENJAMIN.
de peso," to left " 19 November," and to right The existence of this stamp in embryo state
" 1493—1893." Our correspondents also send was mentioned on page 190 of the LONDON
us the official notification of this provisional PHILATELIST. It represents a winged Mercury
issue, issued at Porto Rico on November 6th, in a central rayed oval, with the balance of
and signed by the Administrator-General, Senor the somewhat large design consisting of fluted
Antonio de Oldzaga. As far as our limited columns and other ornamentation. The in-
knowledge of the Spanish language has enabled scriptions, in black, are above "Local Post," to
us to decipher the text, we gather that this left "1843," to right "1893, numerals to right
issue was expressly designed to celebrate the and left, intersecting the middle of the band
4ooth anniversary of the discovery of Porto encircling the central design, and " two cents "
Rico, and that the sale of the stamps was to be in small capitals immediately above the base of
limited to the auspicious day alone—the igth the aforesaid band. Within this are inscribed
November—more with a view to present profit above, in red, " Shanghai Municipality," and in
than to past glory! Messrs. Whitfield King black below, the probable equivalent in Chinese
& Co. also write as follows :— characters; paper white wove.
"Our correspondent writes as follows con- 2 c. Jubilee Issues, red and black, wmk. Chinese
characters, perf. yj.
cerning these: The number printed was only
20,000, and the instructions were that they Tonga.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. write
were not to be sold except on the igth Nov., that of the 4d. and 8d. provisional issued in
and only for letters presented, on account of 1892 the following are the exact numbers
the limited number, thus, and not unnaturally, printed and sold, adding that they were uuao
 NEW ISSUES AND UNCHRONICLED VARIETIES. 221

quainted with the ultimate destiny of the unsold not only—however beautiful to the eye—unduly
copies:— large, but most unpleasant to the taste! We
4d. on id., 12,720 printed; 6,960 sold. are not, therefore, surprised to see that a
8d. ,, ad., 3,360 „ 2,640 „
Messrs. Ridpath & Co. send us diagonally fresh issue is contemplated on the expiry of
bisected halves of the current id. used to make the present contract in June, 1894. The Metro-
up a 2jd. rate. politan Philatelist publishes the contract in
full, and we learn that "bids" are wanted for
United States.—Mr. J. W. Gillespie has each of the several kinds of stamps as follows:—
shown us a specimen of the 6 c. of the Columbus values. size.
series, printed in dull blue instead of purple or ii Ordinary stamps for use of the public, f x| inch.
noted, as usual. We have seen fairly marked 24 Newspaper and periodical stamps t|Xil »
shades of other values of this series, but should 7 Postage due stamps J3*1 ,,
be glad to know if other collectors have seen i Special delivery stamps isXi ,,
this particular variety. The context leaves the question of the con-
It seems that there is a tendency to use the tinuous use of the whole or part of the current
smaller stamps instead of these "Jubilees" in designs an open question for the Postal Official
commercial circles in the States, a circumstance Authorities, and affords interesting reading
that will elicit little astonishment, as they are throughout.

ENVELOPES, WRAPPERS, &c.

NOTE. —Unless otherwise stated, the description of Novelties under this heading applies to ordinary Postal Envelopes.
Belgium.—As mentioned on page 203 of this Permit me to give you exact information re-
Journal, the Sabbatical mania has extended garding these Franks.
to the "entires," and we have to note an There are in all four varieties—two of the
envelope with the non-delivery legend below Mexican and two of the Domestic, or United
the stamp, having an asterisk at the side refer- States lines.
ing to the information in French and Flemish The Californian Route type of Frank has not
that " This inscription can be struck out." been in use for ten years last passed.
Reductio ad absurdum ! The Columbian Frank is found only on one
10 c., brownish, orange on white. size and one denomination (the 2d. value) of
10 c., carmine on blue (enveloppe-lettre.) U.S. Columbian envelopes, is printed only in
Gold Coast.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. blue, and is not used on any other of the United
send us the new shape of registered envelope, States envelopes. It is the 1884 Domestic
similar in all respects to that chronicled Frank with the addition of the surcharge
recently under Great Britain, but having the Columbian Issue.
/~\__ 1492 « 1892.
addition immediately over the stamp of the
words " Gold Coast Colony" in large black below, and substituting the figures 1892 in the
upright block capitals. right-hand oval for 1884, as was last used in
Registration envelope, with stamp on face, the Domestic Frank.
2d. black and blue. After the design was approved, 1,000 were
Montenegro.—The recent jubilee celebration struck as a first edition, when, upon inspection,
of the introduction of printing would not have Mr. Stein, the Assistant President of the
been complete had the postal authorities not Company, and who had the matter in charge,
been able to show the marvellous improvement noticed the figures 1892 in the oval were smaller
made in the art, by a number of errors. than the 1852 in the opposite oval, and ordered
Accordingly we have mistakes (?) of reversed them to be changed, which was done, and all
stamps, of double overprint, and of surcharges subsequent stock was struck with the larger
wandering away from the stamp, etc., usque ad figures, thus constituting two varieties of the
nauseam. (T. Paste.) Domestic. I enclose one of each for your
Society.
United States.—With specimens of the The Mexican Columbians appear on one size
2 c. Columbian envelopes we have the following only, 3! in. X 6 in., of Mexican envelopes of
letter from Mr. H. B. Phillips, to whom we the blue interior style now in use, and on the
are indebted for taking so much trouble in 5 cvo. blue and 10 c vo. red—two values of which
the matter:— there are no alterations or sub-varieties so far ;
San Francisco, and as it is not the intention of the Company
24th November, 1893. to have any more struck, these four varieties of
To the Editor of the LONDON PHILATELIST. Columbian Franks are probably all we shall
SIR,—In the October number of your Journal, have.
under the head of " New Issues," you mention Respectfully yours,
and comment upon the Columbian issue of H. B. PHILIPS,
Wells Fargo & Co.'s Franks, the types marking Charter Member A. P. A., and Member
you say " there are interminable varieties," etc. of Pacific Philatelic Society.
2Z2 PHILATELIC SOCIETIES' MEETINGS.

POST AND LETTER CARDS.

NOTE.—Unless otherwise stated, the description under this heading applies to the ordinary single Post Card.

Belgium.—From the Timbre-Postt we note Spain elsewhere noted, was issued in this state
the extension of M. Vandepeerboom's absurd to the public.
innovation to the cards, and that we are shortly 1879 issue, 25 c., brown on buff, double impression.
to see Sabbatical postcards of 5 and 10 c., single
Montenegro.—Of the Centenary cards, no less
and reply, and of letter cards of 25 c. We
than 7 varieties of " errors," etc., are chronicled
wonder if this mania will apply to telegraph by the Timbre-Poste. " More to follow ? "
forms also!
Bermuda.—Messrs. Whitfield King & Co. Roumania.—Messrs. Ridpath & Co. send us
send us specimens of two new Bermuda cards the current 10 c. card with the word Roumania
just received of the usual current Colonial type. spelt with a final "e."
id., carmine on buff, 10 c., red on yellow, inscribed Roumanie.
id. + id. „ „
Spain.—From the same correspondents we
Cuba.—Messrs. Ridpath & Co. send us a have the 1878 card, blue on buff, with an
card of the 1879, head to right of Alphonso additional and reversed printing like the Cuban
type, doubly printed, the one impression being card elsewhere described.
at the top and the other at the bottom of the 1875 issue, 5 cents, de peseta, blue on buff, double
card, but we are unaware if this, as that of impression.

Philatelic Societies' Meetings.

The Philatelic Society, London. President (in the chair), Major Evans, and
Messrs. E. D. Bacon, C. N. Biggs, R. Meyer,
Hon. President: R. Ehrenbach, Hastings Wright, H. R. Old-
H.R.H. DUKE ALFRED field, A. A. Davis, C. Colman, R. Pearce, E. J.
OF SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA. Nankivell, and J. A. Tilleard. After the minutes
of the last meeting had been read and con-
Hon. Vice-President:
firmed, a letter from the Secretary of the
H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK, K.G. Alamo City Philatelic Society, announcing that
President: THE EARI, OF KINGSTON. this Society had been elected to honorary cor-
Vice-President: M. P. CASTLE. responding membership of that body, was read,
Hon. Secretary: D. GARTH. and it was determined to accept the member-
Hon. Assistant-Secretary: J. A. TIHEARD. ship. Letters from Messrs. E. F. Broderip and
John C. Badgeley resigning the membership of
Treasurer: C. N. BIGGS.
the Society were also read, and the resignations
Librarian : T. MAYCOCK. were directed to be accepted with regret. Mr.
Committee: John M. Cripps, proposed by Mr. Lambert and
E. D. BACON. T. WlCKHAM-JONES. seconded by the Assistant-Secretary, was elected
A. W. CHAMBERS. E. J. NANKIVEIA. a member of the Society. The Vice-President
E. B. EVANS. R. PEARCE. then read a paper on "The First Twopence
Stamp of Victoria," giving the result of his in-
AT the Sixth Meeting of the Season 1893-94 vestigations into the history of this stamp, and
the business consisted of the revision of the containing a large amount of novel and valuable
Reference Ivists of the stamps of the Transvaal. information in regard to the several types.
Mr. Hastings Wright showed a number of the After some discussion on the various questions
4d. English stamps (watermark, large garter), raised in the paper, a cordial vote of thanks
apparently on the safety paper. The stamps was accorded to Mr. Castle, on the motion of
were received from a firm in Switzerland, and the Assistant-Secretary, seconded by Mr.
are apparently the ordinary stamp on white Colman, for his very interesting contribution,
paper, changed to blue by some chemical which, with the permission of the author, it
process. is proposed to publish in THE LONDON PHI-
LATELIST.
THE Seventh Meeting of the Season was held
at Effingham House on Friday, the 24th Novem- AT the Eighth Meeting of the Season the
ber, at 7.30 p.m., and was attended by the Vice- study of the Reference Lists of the Transvaal
 PHILATELIC SOCIETIES' MEETINGS. 223

was proceeded with and concluded. It was York, thanking the members of the Society
determined to proceed with the study of the for the Address. On the proposal of the
new British African Companies' stamps, which Secretary this letter was ordered to be entered
would complete the revision of the Society's on the minutes of the Society.
Reference List of the stamps of the South Prof. A. S. Napier then read his Paper on "The
African Colonies, and afterwards to take the Stamps, Cards, Envelopes Used for Messenger
remaining Colonies of Great Britain in Europe Purposes at some of the Colleges at Oxford."
and Asia. The Paper contained a description of the stamps,
&c., information respecting the engraver of the
THE Ninth Meeting of the Season was held plates, the number printed, dates when used,
at Effingham House on Friday, the 8th Decem- &c. The paper was illustrated with specimens
ber, at 7.30 p.m., and was attended by the Vice- of most of the types referred to. Mr. J. R. F.
President, Major Evans, and Messrs. E. D. Turner also exhibited his beautifully-mounted
Bacon, R. Meyer, Hastings Wright, R. Ehren- and unrivalled collection of these College
bach, L. Gibb, T. Maycock, G. B. Routledge, stamps. The collection, in which there was only
E. A. Elliott, Stanley Gibbons, R. Pearce, J. A. one known variety missing, contained fourteen
Tilleard, and John C. Potter. The Vice-Presi- entire sheets, many blocks, pairs, single copies
dent having taken the chair, the minutes of the (shades), and a large number of used specimens.
last meeting were read and confirmed. The Besides these were specimens of those adhesives
Secretary reported the receipt of a bound copy used at Keble for parcel purposes, and the
of Vol. I. of the Philatelic Chronicle and Adver- unique type of embossed Merton on the original
tiser, presented by the publishers, and the envelopes.
Librarian was requested to acknowledge the As Prof. Napier has arranged for this paper
receipt of the book with the thanks of the to be printed in The Monthly Journal, it would
Society. Mr. Castle, in presenting on behalf b° discourteous to the Editor of that periodical
of the Brighton Philatelic Society, a framed to give more information than here stated.
group of portraits of its members, mentioned A discussion ensued, and a vote of thanks
that Mr. Willett had given the portraits to his was unanimously passed.
Society for the purpose of the gift. The As- F. A. BELLAMY,
sistant-Secretary was directed to acknowledge Hon. Sec. and Treasurer.
the gift, with the thanks of this Society to Mr.
Willett and the other members of the Brighton
Society. Major Evans moved "That Lady Brighton and Sussex Philatelic
Members of the Society, whether in town or Society.
country, shall pay one guinea subscription only,
and that Article 21 of the Society's Statutes be Honorary President: BARON DE WORMS.
amended so as to read:—' The annual subscrip- Committee for the Year 1893.
tion for Town Members is two guineas, and for President: M. P. CASTLE.
Ladies and Country and Corresponding Mem- Vice-President: J. H. REDMAN.
bers one guinea.' " After some discussion the
motion, which was seconded by Mr. Bacon, was Hon. Sec. & Treasitrer: A. DE WORMS.
carried unanimously. The Vice-President read W. T. WILLETT. H. STAFFORD SMITH.
a paper on " The Second Plate of the ad. Laur- J. W. GlLLESPIE. R. J. WOODMAN.
eated Series of New South Wales," which was
illustrated by his fine collection of the stamps THE Second Meeting of the Season was held
in question. On the motion of Mr. Biggs, at Markwell's Hotel, Brighton, on Monday,
seconded by Mr. Gibbons, a cordial vote of November 6th, at 7.45 p.m. Present:—Messrs.
thanks was accorded to Mr. Castle for his inter- M. P. Castle, J. H. Redman, R. J. Woodman,
esting paper, which it is proposed to publish A. H. Thomas, O. Pfenninger, H. Stafford-
in THE LONDON PHILATELIST. Owing to the Smith, J. W. Gillespie, P. de Worms, A. de
near approach of the Christmas holidays it was Worms, W. H. G. Cruttwell, and one visitor
decided to postpone the meeting, which, in the (Mr. T. E. Sansom). The President in the chair.
ordinary course, would be held on the 2and After the minutes of the previous meeting had
instant, until Friday the zgth instant. been read and confirmed, some correspondence
was read by the Secretary, including a letter
from Mr. W. T. Willett, presenting to the
The Oxford Philatelic Society. Society a large photographic group of its mem-
bers, recently taken by Mr. Otto Pfenninger,
THE Nineteenth Meeting was held at the with a suggestion that as the Society already
Bursary, Exeter College. The President (Dr. possessed a copy it should be offered to the
Murray) in the chair. Prof. Napier, Rev. H. London Philatelic Society.
Cummings, Messrs. W. J. King, Heurtley A cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Willett for his
Sankey, E. A. Bacon, T. Nicholls, E. P. Butler, kindness was unanimously carried.
J. R. F. Turner, J. F. Burnett, F. A. Bellamy The President then read some very interest-
(Hon. Sec.), and two visitors were present. ing notes on the first two issues of Victoria,
The usual business having been transacted, illustrated by his magnificent collection of
the Secretary read a letter from the Duke of these stamps. After giving a very instructive
 224 PHILATELIC SOCIETIES' MEETINGS.
description of the various alterations made in THE Sixth Meeting of the Session was held
these early issues, he stated that although the at the Blackfriars Hotel on Friday, November
2d. with fine background and sides was 24th, 1893, the Vice-President in the chair, sup-
always believed to be the first variety of this ported by the Hon. Secretary, Assistant Hon.
value issued, a specimen with coarse back- Secretary, Librarian, Messrs. Collett, Munn,
ground and fine sides had been recently Grunewald, Blockey, Pemberton, Fildes, Batty,
found postmarked several days prior to the Beazley, and one visitor.
earliest date before known, thus showing that The minutes of the last meeting were read
both varieties were, in all probability, put into and confirmed.
circulation at the sume time. A vote of thanks The Hon. Sec. announced the presentation
to the President was then passed, and Mr. to the Society of the following publications :—
Stafford Smith exhibited the id. value of a The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, Vol.
new issue for the Cape of Good Hope. An II., by Mr. Brown; Catalogue of Post Cards, by
exchange packet from the Manchester Philatelic Mr. Campbell; and The Philatelic Chronicle,
Society was also handed round. by Mr. Walton, which were directed to be
acknowledged with the thanks of the Society
THE Third Meeting of the Season was held to the donors.
at Markwell's Hotel, Brighton, on Monday, The Hon. Sec. announced the receipt of a.
November 2oth, at 7.45 p.m. Present: Messrs. letter from the Earl of Kingston thanking the
J. W. Gillespie, W. T. Willett, O. Pfenninger, Society for electing him an honorary member,
W. H. G. Cruttwell, P. de Worms, H. Stafford which gave great satisfaction to the members.
Smith, R. J. Thrupp, and A. de Worms. In the Mr. Grunewald then read a paper on the per-
absence of the President and Vice-President, foration of stamps, treating his subject in a
Mr. J. W. Gillespie took the chair. The comprehensive and interesting manner.
minutes of the previous meeting having been The Hon. Sec. then read a short critique on
read and confirmed, a letter was read from the the Tapling Collection, New South Wa'.es, or,
President expressing regret that he was un- rather such portion of it as the space at present
avoidably prevented through indisposition allowed to Mr. Bacon in the British Museum
from attending the meeting, and therefore from permitted him to exhibit.
continuing his Notes on Victoria. W. DORNING BECKTON.
It was then proposed by Mr. W. T. Willett Daisy Bank, Swinton Park.
that a collection of " Forgeries" should be
made by the Society, for the use of the members;
Mr. J. W. Gillespie seconded the proposal, and Plymouth Philatelic Society.
after some discussion it was unanimously
carried. The Secretary was requested to send President: A. R. BARRETT.
out notices to that effect, and to solicit contri- Vice-President: R. TYETH STEVENS.
butions of Forgeries. Exchange Superintendent: H. TUCKER, Jun.
Hon.-Sec. & Treasurer: R. LEVY.
Manchester Philatelic Society. Committee :
J. MII/TON. C.
President: VERNON ROBERTS. H. W. MAYNE. I. H. W. TURNER.
Vice-President: F. BARRATT.
Hon. Secretary: W. CORNING BECKTON. THE Opening Meeting of the Third Session
Assistant Hon. Secretary: C. H. COOTE. was held at ga, Princess Square, on October
Hon. Treasurer: G. B. DUERST. nth, 1893. The President in the chair.
Hon. Librarian: J. H. ABBOTT. It was resolved that at least one half the
meetings held during the Session should be
Committee : devoted to the elementary study of stamps,
E. P. COM,ETT. I W. GRUNEWAI^D. for the instruction and assistance of young
G. F. H. GIBSON. 1 W. W. MUNN.
collectors; papers to be read at the other
THE Fifth Meeting of the Session was held meetings.
at the Blackfriars Hotel on Friday, November The following papers were promised:—
nth, 1893, the Vice-President in the chair, sup- By the President, Stamps of Japan; by the
ported by the Hon. Treasurer, Assistant Hon. Vice-President, Manufacture of Paper (2nd
Secretary, Librarian, Messrs. Gibson, Grune- portion) ; by the Hon. - Secretary, South
wald, Munn, Blockey, Batty, Fildes, Beazley, Australian Perforations.
Pemberton, and one visitor. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. William
The minutes of the last meeting were read Earl, solicitor, for again placing a room in his
and confirmed. offices at the disposal of the Society.
Mr. P. L. Pemberton then read a paper on
some reminiscences of his father8 the late E. L. THE Second Meeting was held on October
Pemberton. These proved of very great in- 25th. The President in the chair. Mr. W. H.
terest owing to the late Mr. Pemberton being K. Wright, Borough Librarian, was elected
one of the pioneers of Philately. member.
 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 225
It was resolved that a vote of thanks be paper, and gave it as his opinion that the
conveyed to the Philatelic Society, London, for peculiar square wove appearance in the paper
cards of admission to their Exhibition of West of some of the earlier Japanese stamps was
Indian Stamps. owing probably to the mesh of the deckle
being made of fine split bamboo, combined
THE Third Meeting was held on November with the extremely fibrous material of which
I5th. The President in the chair. the paper was composed. He described at
The President read the first portion of a some length how this combination of circum-
paper on the Stamps of Japan; he intimated stances would produce the effects seen.
that he should deal with the subject under
three heads:—
I. The paper on which the stamps were THE Fourth Meeting was held on November
printed. 29th, the President in the chair.
II. The Japanese numerals and syllabic The Hon. Sec. announced the receipt from
characters. the publishers of Vol. I. of the Philatelic
III. The various issues of stamps. Chronicle and Advertiser as a gift to the
In the course of a most instructive paper, Society's library. The same was accepted,
illustrated by his fine collection, he alluded and a vote of thanks passed.
to the great assistance students of Japanese The President read the second portion of his
stamps had derived from the writing of Mr. paper on "The Stamps of Japan," dealing
E. D. Bacon, whom he considered to be the with the numerals used for expressing the
greatest authority on the subject. He described values and the syllabic characters. He was of
at some length the various papers used, which opinion that these latter denoted control marks,
he divided into three classes, laid, wove, and although they were generally regarded as plate
European wove. The two former were hand- numbers; this latter theory appears to be
made, and he deemed the last to be named upset by the fact that the same syllabic
erroneously, as although made with European character had been found on two different
machinery it was manufactured in Japan of plates in the case of more than one value.
Japanese materials, and would be more correctly He very fully explained the different numerals,
designated as machine-made. etc., as they appear on the various issues.
In a discussion which ensued, Mr. R. T. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr.
Stevens expressed his opinion that collectors of R. T. Stevens, who had printed for the use of
Japanese stamps had been labouring under a members copies of the numerals and syllabic
delusion in describing the paper, showing a characters dealt with.
fine quadrille1 pattern watermark as being laid, ASHER LEVY,
and asserted it was wove. He described to the 190, Union-street, Hon. Sec.
meeting the difference between laid and wove Plymouth.

Occasional Notes.
The Tapllng Collection. The President of the Philatelic Society.
The first portion of New South Wales has We are gratified to be able to report a decided
been removed, and the remaining stamps of improvement in the health of the esteemed
this country, together with those of Canada, President of the London Society. A short
Lagos, Gibraltar, and the Ionian Islands are stay at Brighton had a further beneficial effect
now on view in the cases at the British Museum. upon Lord Kingston, and he was lately enabled
Our notes on the Sydneys are unavoidably held to travel by easy stages to his residence in
over until our next issue. Ireland, where we sincerely trust a rest and
quietude will completely restore his lordship
Additions to the Tapling Collection. to his normal health.
We are glad to announce the following new The Recent Exhibition at Zurich.
additions to the " Tapling Collection " -.—Great We read in our Swiss contemporaries that a
Britain: Current One Penny, printed on the most successful financial result attended this
gummed side. — Mr. G. Campbell. British Exhibition, and that some hundreds of pounds
Guiana: Unused specimen of the 24 cent were thus enabled to be voted to the Postal
" Official" issue 1875.—Mr. M. Giwelb. Great Charities. The demand for the post card has
Britain; Envelope of Keble College, Oxford, stimulated reproduction, as there are already
also a strip of seven of the Balliol College forged ones about. The initiation of this
stamps, showing several specimens tete-beche.— system, we believe at Guildhall in 1887, has
Professor A. S. Napier. United States : Local, much to answer for. There will soon be but
" City Despatch Post" 3 cents, black on greyish three steps in collecting—Jubilee Issues, French
paper, unused.—Mr. Charles Windsor. Colonials, and sunbeams (at Colney Hatch)!
226 OCCASIONAL NOTES.
Colonial Surcharges. Dutch Forgeries.
We have been favoured with a copy of the We read in Continental Journals that a certain
following important notice, and are given to H. J. Schroeder has recently been sentenced
understand that similar instructions have been to three years' imprisonment for imitating and
or are to be forwarded to all our Colonial circulating false 5 cent stamps. These litho-
Postmasters. This is indeed welcome news, graphic imitations were so successfully made
and we can assure Lord Ripon that he will that it is estimated some 1,150 specimens have
earn the deepest feeling of gratitude on the been put into circulation. The main difference
part of all true Philatelists if he succeeds in seems to be (says the Timbre-Paste) that the
stopping the recent scandalous misuse of letters of " cents " are unevenly placed.
provisional issues. New Perforation Gauge.
The Selangor Government Gazette publishes the follow-
ing circular despatch from I,ord Ripon:— Yet another variety of this useful invention
Downing Street, has been brought to our notice by Mr. D.
i8th August, 1893. Brosnan. It is square in shape, with the
SIR,—My attention has been called to the practice of measured perforations from 16 to 7 at the edges
issuing surcharged postage stamps, and to the tempta-
tions which it affords to Postmasters and Treasurers, and of both sides of the card, the distinctive feature
other public officers, of making irregular profits by being that these several gauges are cut off
dealings with stamp dealers and collectors. of coloured linen and pasted on. We should
If proper care is taken to maintain a sufficient supply say, from a short experience, it has much to
of stamps, the practice of surcharging is unnecessary, and
it should never be resorted to unless absolutely required recommend it.
for the convenience of the public, and in every such case Departmental Scandal in Servia.
the officer responsible for keeping up the supply of stamps
should be liable to be fined. The Exchange Telegraph Company learns
I have, &c., that the Servian Minister of Finance has dis-
RIPON. covered great defalcations in the Stamp Depart-
The Officer Administering the Government of the ment. It appears that during the past five
Straits Settlements. years stamps of the value of about 1,000,000 f.
Contemplated Philatelic Museum at Chicago. have been fraudulently dealt with. Among the
There is some rumour in the American arrests already made are those of the former
Journals of the foundation of a Philatelic Adjutant-Director-General of the Telegraph
Museum at Chicago. This would be good news, Department, and a high functionary of the
but judging from the Exhibition in the World's Finance Department. Several other important
Fair it would require more support to render it arrests are hourly expected.
a success, than was accorded to that venture. The Durand Mission and the Afghan Stamps.
From the Statesman of October igth, of Cal-
The Recent Stamp Robbery.
cutta, we have the following interesting para-
The misguided youths who acquired such an graph:—"One of the members of the Durand
insatiable philatelic hunger that they decided Mission has something to say about the postage
to acquire a collection from Mr. Field without stamps of Afghanistan. ' You cannot,' he writes,
paying for it have been apprehended, and, ' go to the Post Office and ask for ten rupees'
having returned the missing goods intact, have, worth of stamps, or rather, to be strictly
with wise leniency, been duly admonished by accurate, you might do so, but your request
Sir John Bridge at Bow Street, and bound over would not be granted. The custom here is to
in their parents' name to appear for judgment take or send your letter to the Post Office, pay
if called upon. the amount of postage due, and come away.
French Colonial Surcharges. The Postmaster affixes the stamp, and you don't
After citing the several recent perforations of see the letter again. It eventually reaches the
surcharges in the French Colonies, the Collec- addressee, and it is only from an addressee of a
tioneur de Timbres-Poste quotes the particular letter which has gone through the post that you
instance of Tahiti, on which we recently freely can obtain a stamp. It would doubtless be very
commented, and adds " that in the interest of interesting to trace the growth of the Afghan
one person only this colony issued in a few days Postal Department. From its inception, I
forty varieties of adhesive stamps," states its believe, the Dost introduced a postal system of
opinion, fully shared by us, that these facts are three sorts. The Ameer Abdur Rahman has
scandalous, and again calls upon the Secretary had three issues of stamps. When he first came
of State for the French Colonies to apply a to the throne he had dies struck for two
a drastic remedy. postage stamps, both round in shape and of a
dull red colour. One of these was valued at one
Mr. Dawson A. Vindin. abasi or 4 annas, and the other at two abasis.
We are glad to hear that Mr. Vindin, ap- The former was used for letters weighing
parently so pleased with his recent visit to this one miskal, or half the weight of the Cabuli
country, has now returned as a resident. We rupee; the latter carried a letter up to two
hear that he contemplates starting in business miskals. The inscription on these stamps
in the centre of Philatelic life—the Strand— is ' Darus Sultaneh, Cabul,' on the margin,
and we wish him every success in his new and the price in the middle. Three years
venture. ago a small black oblong stamp, about
 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 227

one inch long, valued at one abasi, was issued. Terre Haute, but the press in general all over
This was merely inscribed ' Masul Kagaz Dak America has commented on it with wonder,
Khana Dowlat-i-Afghanistan fi miskal ek abasi.' and many surmises have been made as to the
This has now been superseded by a much larger possible disposition of the stamps. Attempts
red oblong stamp which bears the same words have been repeatedly made to find the cause,
exactly, but has, in addition, a mosque and two but so far a solution has not been offered, and
flags. A stamp of the same shape, and partly where the stamps have been going has been a
of the same design, of a green colour, is affixed mystery.
to all the articles sold in the bazaars on which " The matter has become so prominent here
duty is levied. The skin rugs brought for sale that street discussion is often heard, and from
the other day all bore one of these stamps, and this an Express reporter gained a clue that
on a posteen which I purchased this week for millions of American postage stamps are being
thirty Cabuli rupees, I find the same stamp, shipped to Christian missionaries in China by
which, I understand, is not of any fixed value, different societies of the Sisters of Charity
but signifies that duty has been paid. The residing in this country.
difference between these customs duty stamps "A prominent Roman Catholic, whose sister
and postage stamps is that the inscription on is a member of one of those societies, gave the
the latter is ' Masul Ashie Adadi Daulat-i-Khu- first information, and stated that about the first
dadad Afghanistan,' which means that the of the year orders were received by a number
God-granted Government of Afghanistan has of the Sisters of Charity societies, from the
been paid customs duty." missionaries in China, asking for all the can-
celled American, postage stamps they could
"The Postage Stamp Craze." secure. The missionaries had entered a new
There have been many opinions given as to field at that time in the celestial country. This
the origin of the undoubtedly widespread be- field was located well in the interior of the
lief in the efficacy of collecting 1,000,000 stamps country, where Christianity had never been
for some occult end. The following pronounce- taught.
ment on the subject by an American contem- "The natives of the new field are believers in
porary has, to us at least, a suspicion of paganism and practice many heathen customs.
possibility. The wish is father to the thought, Although crude to a certain extent they are
as the purchase of little China boys for old fond of art decorations, particularly so in
postage stamps sounds most attractive! When beautifying their residences. This can also be
one finds that the sole object of their being said of those living closer to English and
"swopped" in this somewhat ignominious American ports. Recognising the superior art
manner is to make them little Christians (and of Americans, the postage stamp used in this
not as might be supposed by Ah Sin for the country is highly prized. They are bought and
Chicago sausage factories), we feel tempted to sold as an article of decoration at high prices.
import millions of "Continentals," and to con- "Many of the richer Chinese have even
vert untold numbers of little pigtails into papered their rooms with American postage
full-blown Christians. The only drawback is stamps at a great cost. The missionaries,
that, from recent experiences, we fancy that a realising the value of the cancelled stamp to
"convert" rapidly changes into a revert— them for the purchase of necessities, and the
and da capo! most important, that of buying or securing the
"Cancelled United States postage stamps privilege of converting Chinese pagan children
sent to China for the purchase of Chinese to the Christian faith, sent the order to this
children—is the solution of the stamp gathering country for all the postage stamps procurable
craze that has puzzled Terre Haute business to be shipped to them.
men and others for some time past. "The result is that the members of several
" Since January nearly every business office, branches of the Sisters of Charity have asked
where large consignments of letters are received friends of the Church and others to gather these
daily, have been besieged by children and young seemingly good-for-nothing pieces of paper to
women requesting that the cancelled stamps be shipped to China.
be saved for them. The request has been "The Rev. Father M'Evoy, of St. Joseph's
complied with as far as possible and millions Church, was asked regarding the matter and
of stamps have been gathered in this way. corroborated the above solution of the hereto-
"The craze has not only been confined to fore mysterious postage stamp craze."
 Correspondence.
THE PROPOSED EXPERT COMMITTEE. which I enclose for your inspection. We may,
To the Editor of the LONDON PHILATELIST. therefore, assume that the correct date of issue
DEAR SIR,—November LONDON PHILATELIST for the Russian stamped envelopes was actually
just to hand. I think the " expert" idea in the ist December, 1845, and that both kinds
the leader a good one, and if I can serve the were issued at the same time.
Society in any way I shall be glad. I don't Kindly return the envelope and oblige,
know that I can claim to be an " expert," but Yours truly,
on Leeward Islands and Australians I might be JOHN SiEWERT.
of some service. Personally I should be quite St. Petersburg,
willing to do without remuneration, but if any i9/3ist August, 1893.
such system be decided upon, I am of opinion (This is a very interesting letter, and the facts
that the funds of the Society should receive a are as stated by Mr. Siewert. The figure "4"
stated percentage. of the postmark is not very distinct, but we do
Yours faithfully, not think it can be any other numeral.—ED.)
O. FIRTH.
Hawthorne House, Baildon, THE VICTORIAN 6D. STAMP OF 1854.
Nr. Shipley, Yorks.,
December ist, 1893. To the Editor of the LONDON PHILATELIST.
DEAR SIR,—Knowing that you are interested
DATES OF RUSSIAN ENVELOPES. in Australian Stamps, I think you may like to
To the Philatelic Society of London. hear of variety of perforation not chronicled in
DEAR SIRS,—I have never been able to under- " Oceania." It is Victoria 1854 6d. orange,
stand the reason why the date of issue for the serrated perfs. top and sides, rouletted 7 at
Russian stamped envelope should be mentioned bottom. The stamp is quite beyond suspicion,
by all the catalogues, Moens included, as the ist as I do not think it has seen daylight for 25
of December, 1848, whilst the date for the years, and I find it cost at the rate of ^d., which
stamped envelopes issued for the Town post of scale would scarcely pay a forger even in the
St. Petersburg was mentioned as having been olden days.
the ist of December, 1845, and that for the Yours faithfully,
Moscow Town post as the ist of January, 1846. WALTER NATHAN.
I have just come across a 10 kop envelope 194, Adelaide-road, N.W.
bearing the date of the lyth January, 1846, and 2oth October, 1893.

The Philatelic Market.—Owing to pressure on our space we are compelled to defer until
next issue, notices of Messrs. Ventom's, Cheveley's, Hadlow's, and other sales.

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